Misdemeanor charges are for offenses that the possible sentence includes a term of imprisonment between fifteen days and one year. There are many different offenses that are labeled either class A or B, depending on the seriousness. Regardless of which class of misdemeanor you have been charged with, it is important to reach out now to our experienced team of New York criminal attorneys to discuss your case and make sure that it is handled properly.
Class B misdemeanors are the lessor of the two that can be charged. Offenses that are included in this category are public lewdness, loitering, criminal sale or possession of marijuana in the fifth degree and stalking in the fourth degree. There are many other charges that are included in this category and it is important to have an attorney on your case who understands the different levels and how they apply. If convicted of a class B misdemeanor, the offender can be sentenced to up to three months in jail and can also be ordered to pay a fine or restitution to the victim. Restitution would most likely be ordered when the case has involved issuing a bad check or rent gouging charges.
Assault in the third degree, sexual misconduct, stalking in the third degree and petit larceny are among some of the offenses that qualify as class A misdemeanors. These offenses can lead to up to a year in jail (meaning a maximum term of 364 days) and the possibility of paying a fine up to $1,000 or double the amount that the accused gained from committing the offense.
One thing that our office has been successful in negotiating is a term of probation instead of any time served. We have negotiated many successful deals for our clients who were charged with a misdemeanor, resulting in only a term of probation and minor other stipulations like community service or completing some sort of course related to the crime. As example, someone charged with petit larceny could be required to take a theft prevention course before the completion of the probation period.
Understanding which types of offenses constitute a misdemeanor are not simple, but our experienced team of New York criminal attorneys have spent years handling all types of charges regardless of which category they fall into. Those who have been charged with vehicle and traffic related offenses that are designated as misdemeanors should see our pages dedicated specifically to discussing them, as they are in a category of unclassified misdemeanors, though are just as serious in their possible sentences.
Our office has handled hundreds of misdemeanor cases, both dealing with traffic violations and in non-traffic matters. If you want a team who is willing to put in the work for you to make sure that the best possible outcome is achieved following your misdemeanor charges, call our office now. The sooner we are able to begin working on your case, the more assurance you have that you have a team doing everything possible to obtain a result that works for everyone.